Utah governor bans fireworks statewide ahead of Fourth of July amid drought

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox on Thursday issued a temporary, statewide restriction on fireworks for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, citing “historic” and “extraordinary” wildfire conditions across the state.

Cox, a Republican, signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency, temporarily suspending state law to allow the state forester to ban the discharge of fireworks within municipal boundaries between July 2 and July 5.

As America’s 250th anniversary approaches, 94% of Utah is facing severe or extreme drought.

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The state has already seen 354 wildfires scorch nearly 142,000 acres this season, with more than 75% of the wildfires having been caused by humans.

While the mandate snuffs out some of the holiday excitement, it offers a potential compromise for residents wanting to celebrate. 

Local municipal leaders, working alongside their fire chiefs, are granted the authority to designate specific “safe areas” where fireworks will still be permitted.

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If local leaders do not designate these areas, the state forester’s closure remains in full effect.

“Nothing about this decision was easy,” Cox wrote in a statement, acknowledging that Utahns typically enjoy celebrating with pyrotechnics. “But this year is different. We are seeing fire behavior that even our most experienced firefighters say they’ve never witnessed before.”

In a statement posted to X, Cox added, “Our goal is to make sure our neighborhoods and communities are still standing on July 5.”

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Utah State Forester Jamie Barnes warned that prolonged drought, critically dry vegetation and extreme weather are causing blazes to spread faster and behave in ways that “defy historical expectations.”

To deter preventable fires, the Utah Department of Public Safety is ramping up patrols in high-risk areas, and officials warn that sparking an illegal wildfire could lead to significant criminal and civil consequences.

State officials plan to re-evaluate the wildfire danger after the Independence Day weekend to determine if similar restrictions will be necessary for the state’s Pioneer Day holiday from July 22 to July 25. 

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Residents are urged to check local restrictions, sign up for emergency alerts and report any suspicious activity immediately.

Cox’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.